Shloka 4

Hari in the Primeval Waters: Prakṛti as Veil, the ‘Sleep’ Metaphor, and Brahmā’s Lotus-Channel Inquiry

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीस्तुष्टाव च हरिं गर्भोदे पक्षिसत्तम / लक्ष्मीधराभ्यां रूपाभ्यां प्रकृतिर्हरिणा तथा

Transliteration

lakṣmīstuṣṭāva ca hariṃ garbhode pakṣisattama / lakṣmīdharābhyāṃ rūpābhyāṃ prakṛtirhariṇā tathā

Translation

ఓ పక్షిసత్తమా (గరుడా), గర్భోదకములో లక్ష్మీ హరిని స్తుతించెను; ప్రకృతియును హరితో కలిసి లక్ష్మీ మరియు ధరా—ఈ రెండు రూపములలో స్థాపితమైంది.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• गर्भ-उदे: in the embryonic waters
• गर्भ-उदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गर्भस्य उदकम्)

• पक्षि-सत्तम: O best of birds
• पक्षि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पक्षिणां सत्तमः)

• लक्ष्मी-धराभ्याम्: by Lakṣmī and Dharā (Earth)
• लक्ष्मी-धराभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (लक्ष्मीश्च धराश्च)

• रूपाभ्याम्: in (two) forms / by (two) forms
• रूपाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (Nature)
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• हरिणा: by Hari
• हरिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Pakshisattama/Vinata-putra) in the narrative frame of the Garuda Purana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣmī’s stuti to Hari and prakṛti’s establishment with Him in dual supportive forms (Śrī and Dharā) indicates divine governance through śakti.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti-pariṇāma within īśvara-adhīnatā (prakṛti functioning under the Lord); the world as supported by divine power, not independent.

Application: Honor the sustaining powers in life—grace (Śrī) and stability (Dharā)—as offerings to Hari; integrate gratitude and stewardship of the earth into devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: primordial waters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages on Śrī-Nārāyaṇa and cosmogenesis

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Lakshmi
• Dharā (Earth)
• Prakriti
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Lakshmi praising Hari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links Lakshmi (divine fortune and śakti) to Vishnu’s cosmic order, presenting praise (stuti) as the principle by which harmony and auspiciousness are established in creation.

How does this verse explain Prakriti (Nature) in relation to Vishnu?

It frames Prakriti as operating “with Hari,” emphasizing that the material principle is not independent but functions in alignment with Vishnu, expressed here through the paired forms of Lakshmi and Dharā.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat prosperity and the Earth as sacred trusts: cultivate gratitude (stuti), ethical earning, and environmental responsibility as expressions of living in alignment with divine order (dharma).